Enhanced nanocrystalline stability of BCC iron via copper segregation

Nanocrystalline alloys are known for their high density of grain boundaries (GBs), which results in low thermal stability and a tendency for coarsening. In this work, we investigated Fe–Cu alloys to explore the effects of Cu concentration on the thermal stability of nanocrystalline samples. Using hybrid molecular dynamics (MD) and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations, annealing treatments of nanocrystalline samples with varied Cu concentrations were conducted. The simulation results revealed that Cu atoms tended to accumulate at GBs. Subsequently, the model with Cu segregation was subjected to mechanical creep loading at various temperatures. Through the analysis of atomic structure evolution during creep deformation, it was found that Cu segregation efficiently stabilizes GBs and restricts their movement. The present findings highlight that the thermal stability of nanocrystalline Fe–Cu alloys can be effectively improved by introducing suitable Cu segregation at GBs.     

Novel porous ceramic with high strength and thermal performance using MA hollow spheres

The objective of this work is to obtain a multifunctional porous ceramic material at low cost with improved properties and that can be used in many applications like: thermal and acoustic insulation, refractory support and hot gas filtration elements. To that end, a novel facile strategy to fabricate porous ceramics by foaming and pore-forming agent methods using magnesia-aluminum spinel hollow spheres (MASHSs) was reported for the first time, in which calcium aluminate cement (CAC) served as high-temperature binder. The influence of temperature ranging from 1500 ?°C to 1700 ?°C on the thermal conductivity, porosity and mechanical strength were investigated. The results show that, the obtained MASHSs ceramic exhibits high porosity (67.2–71.9%) and thermal conductivity (0.18–0.38 ?W/mK), and compressive strength (6.1–17.1 ?MPa), which is mainly due to the change in crack directions and microstructure optimization with the prolong of firing temperature. The crack directions changed from the surface of MASHSs to the interior MASHSs, which consumes more crack energy, and thus leading to the excellent mechanical performance. What is more, the introduction of MASHSs makes it difficult to lose heat at elevated temperature, and thereby improving the thermal conductivity of materials.     

Stability of thermal cycling and high temperature mechanical properties for Ti–V–Al–B lightweight shape memory alloy

The microstructure of the Ti–V–Al shape memory alloy with refined grain and in-situ TiB phase was modified by doping minor Boron (B), which contributes to the superior mechanical performances and strain recovery characteristics. Compared with other quaternary Ti–V–Al-X alloys, the Ti–V–Al–B alloy showed the largest ultimate tensile stress due to the solution strengthening, grain refinement and precipitation strengthening of in-situ TiB phase. Moreover, the Ti–V–Al alloy added 0.1 ?at.%B possessed the maximum yield stress of 701 ?MPa and the largest tensile fracture strain of 27.6% at the temperature of 150 ?°C. Meanwhile, the excellent strain recovery characteristics with fully recoverable strain of 4% could be obtained due to B addition. Besides, B addition suppressed the precipitation of ω phase during thermal cycling and further improved the thermal cycling stability of the Ti–V–Al alloy.